Ideal conditions verging on the cold side, with the women's race won in a course record
2012 Ballot results
The datasheet
Tokyo Marathon 2012 ballot: 282,824 applications
Arata Fujiwara ran 2:07:48 for second place behind Michael Kipyego's 2:07:37 to all but seal his London Olympic spot at the 2012 Tokyo Marathon, where the general lottery drew 29,400 places from 282,824 marathon applicants.
Applications
282,824
Ballot acceptance
10%
29,400 of 282,824 accepted
Field size
34,678
Total finishers
Race day
Feb 26
2012
Ballot open
Aug 1
2011
Ballot close
Aug 31
2011
Semi-elite
M2:21 W2:52
Open category (18–34)
Race day weather
What runners faced on the course
Context
What made 2012 notable
February 26, 2012 belonged to a Japanese runner the federation had once cut loose. In ideal conditions verging on the cold side, Arata Fujiwara chased the East African leaders to the line and finished second in 2:07:48, a personal best and the fastest marathon by a Japanese man in over four years, a run that all but guaranteed his place at the London Olympics. Michael Kipyego won in 2:07:37 with Stephen Kiprotich third and a fading Haile Gebrselassie fourth in 2:08:17. Atsede Habtamu took the women's race in a course record 2:25:28. Behind the elites the general lottery drew 282,824 marathon applicants for 29,400 places, an acceptance rate near 10.4 percent.
Year over year
Applications over time
Applications · 2007 → 2025
78K130K226K272K294K283K303K302K305K309K321K320K330K300K
'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'25
FAQ
Questions about the 2012 ballot
What were the Tokyo 2012 ballot odds?
The general lottery drew 282,824 marathon applicants for 29,400 places, an acceptance rate near 10.4 percent, roughly a one in ten draw.
When did the 2012 Tokyo lottery window run?
General entry opened on 1 August 2011 and closed on 31 August 2011, with selection by lottery once applications exceeded the field cap.
Who won Tokyo 2012?
Michael Kipyego (KEN) won the men's race in 2:07:37 and Atsede Habtamu (ETH) the women's in a course record 2:25:28.
Why was the 2012 Tokyo Marathon significant for Japan?
Arata Fujiwara finished second in a 2:07:48 personal best, the fastest by a Japanese man in over four years, all but sealing his London Olympic place.
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